Bring sunshine to your outdoor space from late spring to autumn, with our choice of vibrant and colourful container plantings.
THINK BIG
A mass of diverse pots can be tricky to stage well: they might look good separately but pull them together, and chances are the result is a mishmash that isn’t easy on the eye. Instead, think big: invest in several large pots, keeping the whole space in mind. Perhaps a line-up of troughs to delineate the edge of terrace or balcony, several large circular pots at different heights (a couple of bricks make a great base, and water can drain through the centre) as well as one or two low, wide bowls to make an eye-catching tablescape.
Lavender, for example, has little impact on its own, but becomes a dynamic statement when there’s a lot of it. Several large, identical pots – terracotta is lavender’s natural partner – ranged at regular intervals or grouped together are a classic can’t-fail and, of course, smell wonderful as well as attract beneficial insects and butterflies. Hidcote and Munstead are the two traditional low-growing English varieties that are widely available, but it’s worth seeking out the longer-stemmed Italian Grosso, that has elegant, tapering flowers and the most superb fragrance.
GERANIUMS GO REGAL
The regal pelargonium has all the qualities of the more familiar container geraniums but with a whole lot more going on: larger, frilly-edged flowers in sumptuous colours ranging from shell-pink centrally suffused with strawberry to deepest velvety garnet with black at its centre, set off with ruffles of large leaves extravagantly fringed around the edges. Generous of flower and with a tough disposition, the rightly-named regals are your go-tos when you’re looking for showstoppers. When the flowering slows down in autumn, tended with care on a sunny windowsill, they will live to last many more seasons.
Market stall bedding geraniums, the more familiar pelargoniums, are always a great choice for mass planting in troughs, large containers and windowboxes. Go all out on the Mediterranean vibe by mixing the colours: scarlet and sugar pink look very jolly, very Capri. Keep them blooming by regularly deadheading and feeding with a liquid tomato feed on a weekly basis.
THE DELIGHTS OF THE DAISY
Plant up pots that look fresh as a daisy, right through summer. Currently doing the garden centre and nursery rounds is Argyranthemum Cherry Red, a delicious daisy with a perky colour that ranges on the same plant from a vibrant cerise to a soft pink, depending on the stage of each flower. Keep cutting the faded stems of Cherry Red and it will keep pumping out flowers for months.
The large-flowered African daisy Gazania pops up in all kinds of exotic and vibrant combinations, so turn away now if you prefer subtlety to showy. Gazania Sunburst’s flowers have a central hot orange halo that radiates out into tangerine, while Tiger Stripes have sharply striped petals in dazzling contrasts of white, yellow and plum. The strappy, silvery-grey foliage sets off the spectacular flowers to perfection.
Osteospermums, the Cape daisies, are increasingly popular, and deservedly so. These are the daisies to plant en masse for an easy and effective display. Drought-resistant, unfussy and free-flowering, they have a thrilling colour range that varies from rich purple to lilac and the rather fabulous Serenity Bronze, which has shimmery bronze petals set around a burnt crimson eye. If your tastes run to simple and chic, seek out the dead white osteos that have, I kid you not, navy blue centres. Nothing could look more elegant on terrace or balcony.
BLOOMS BY THE MILLION
If you don’t have the patience for deadheading, the good news is that there is a container plant that helpfully ‘self-cleans’, ie the faded flowers simply drop, to be replaced by fresh. Welcome, then, the calibrachoa, aptly dubbed Million Bells due to its free-flowering blooms that, in a sunny spot, will smother the whole plant. Related to the larger-flowered and more familiar petunia, calibrachoa has similar but smaller trumpet flowers that can be found in a wide range of gorgeous colours from butter yellow and power pink to orange, scarlet, magenta and rich purple. Some calibrachoas even have double, frilly blooms for even more va va voom.
If you’re looking for a graceful trailing plant to spill over the side of a pot, verbena is the one to choose. You do need to deadhead verbenas, but it’s an easy task, thanks to the long stems that each hold a generous spray of flowers at their tips. The lime-green leaves make a perfect foil for the flowers in sizzling shades that include two-of-the-best, Sissinghurst Pink and Homestead Purple.
BAG A BEGONIA
Every summer the begonia gains in popularity, not only because the choice of varieties grows ever larger, but because their flower power is simply phenomenal. Like the rest of the container plants featured here, begonias are drought tolerant and less likely to wilt through hot periods. Swerve the conventional blowsy blooms and delight in the cascading flowers of the boliviensis varieties with elongated petals that resemble upside-down, fluttery parasols, primarily in flaming scarlet, rich orange or pure white. Give them tall, handsome pots so the flowering stems will cascade over the edges. Begonia Glowing Embers is a different party animal: the familiar bright orange, but in a simpler flower shown to advantage against chocolate foliage.
